U.S. Deploys Largest Naval Force in Decades Near Venezuelan Coast

The United States is positioning its largest naval task force in decades off the coast of Venezuela as part of Operation Southern Spear, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions.

Over the past week, multiple U.S. carrier strike groups and amphibious readiness groups have moved into the Caribbean Sea, closer to Venezuelan territorial waters than at any time since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Senior U.S. defense officials have described the operation as entering a “new and more active phase,” though they stopped short of confirming offensive intentions.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) warning civilian pilots of heightened risk due to “deteriorating security conditions and increased military activity in and around Venezuela.” In response, several major international airlines, including American Airlines and Copa Airlines, have suspended flights to Caracas and other Venezuelan airports.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has ordered nationwide military exercises involving the army, navy, air force, National Guard, police, and the Bolivarian Militia. The drills, conducted under the banner of the “Independence Plan 200” civil-military defense strategy, are designed to repel a potential foreign invasion.

Venezuela’s active-duty armed forces number approximately 123,000 personnel. However, the government claims the Bolivarian Militia—a civilian reserve force created by the late President Hugo Chávez—now exceeds 8 million members. Maduro has repeatedly stated that, in the event of a U.S. invasion, he would declare a “state of armed republic,” effectively mobilizing the entire population for resistance.

The situation remains fluid, with both sides engaged in intense military posturing and diplomatic rhetoric showing no signs of de-escalation.